Bring People Together, Not Divide Them

As we start a new year and a new Town Council session, I would like to send a message of non-partisanship and unity to my fellow Middletown residents.

Middletown Town Council is a non-partisan body, which means it has non-partisan candidates, non-partisan elections, and non-partisan members. I was extremely disappointed during the recent election to see the Middletown Democratic Party bring partisanship into our municipal election.

The Middletown Democratic Party ran a targeted campaign to “REJECT” named candidates of their choosing who were running for Middletown Town Council. This type of campaign from a political party in a non-partisan election is completely inappropriate and – in my opinion – discourages other residents from running in fear of being targeted and categorized.

Candidates and council members have their own political beliefs and affiliations, which guide them in the way they govern and what issues they run on in their campaigns. However, whichever way candidates lean, I believe it is inappropriate for any party to engage or interfere in a non-partisan election.

Middletown residents confirmed once again by voting “no” on partisanship in Middletown and rejecting this type of slander in our elections. Our voters have chosen to have a non-partisan council. We are already living in extremely divisive political times; so as we embrace a new year and a new council session, I want to encourage everyone – councilors, residents, and these party organizations – to take actions that bring our community together, not divide us and make us weak and uncertain of our future in Middletown.

-Dennis